FZI Living Lab Service Robotics
Robust next-generation robotics – for use at home, in production, and in outer space
In the FZI Living Lab Service Robotics, innovative robot systems are developed and researched. These result from robust, lightweight constructions, specialized power and control components, and the latest software libraries in modular frameworks. The components that make the application optimally feasible are always developed in-house or selected from commercial systems. As a result, the FZI’s service robots offer a high degree of autonomy and flexibility that suits their respective applications.
Robotics at the FZI
The FZI develops novel basic technologies for environmental interpretation, robot control, gripper planning, and human-robot interaction. These are used in various FZI-wide application scenarios. The robots assist and relieve humans in routine tasks and take over exhausting or dangerous work. Special systems are also developed and used alongside traditional industrial production and logistics robots. Care-related tasks, outer space, or mines can also be performed reliably and robustly.
Intelligent
basic technologies
We develop future-oriented
basic technologies such as environmental interpretation, robot control, gripper planning, and human-robot interaction – for modular use.
Robotics in the service
of mankind
Our robotic systems relieve people of monotonous, heavy, or dangerous tasks – from industry to everyday life.
Flexible
areas of application
Whether it’s production, logistics, care, space travel or mines – our solutions are robust, reliable and tailored to specific requirements.
Application scenarios
at the FZI
The developed technologies are tested FZI-wide and in real-life environments – for practical research with genuine added value.
More videos on the FZI’s YouTube-playlist Collaborative Robots and Virtual Engineering.
What makes us special
The FZI’s unique proposition combines the latest hardware, adaptive and modular software, and rapid and robust prototyping. Various manipulators, mobile platforms, sensor systems, and extensive software libraries are available at the FZI Living Lab Service Robotics, enabling the control of different actuator systems and evaluating complex sensor data for experiments and for demonstrator and prototype development.
The latest innovative hardware
- Large selection of industrial, service, and walking robots
- Long-standing experience in the professional handling of robotic hardware
- Workshop for custom-made products and development of components for individual prototypes
Adaptive, modular software
- Integration of the latest algorithms from commercial and open-source repositories
- Applied Artificial Intelligence, SLAM, Motion Planning, Bin Picking, Vision and Large Language Models
- Development of ROS / ROS 2 interfaces
- Working with Isaac Gym and MuJoCo
- FZI MotionPipeline, FZI NavigationPipeline, ros_bt_py, FDCC controller or robot_folders
Fast, robust prototype development
- Manufacturer-independent implementation of innovative prototypes and application scenarios
- Integration and evaluation in existing environments and infrastructures
- Successful long-term collaborations and industry partnerships
References and success stories
Experienced
- ROS driver maintenance for Universal Robots (UR), ifm electronic, SICK Sensor Intelligence
- Over 35 years of experience with the in-house development of our walking robot LAURON
- Over 15 years of experience with our in-house service robot development HoLLiE
Award-winning
- „Beste Manipulation“ ENRICH-Hackathon 2025
- Second Place in the AIRA Challenge 2024
- Winner of the ESA-ESRIC Resources Challenge 2023
- Winner of European Robotics Challenge 2018
Community-oriented
- Member of ROS-Industrial
- Member of euRobotics
- Member of Digital EU Space Ecosystem
- Member of competence center ROBDEKON
- Coordinator of transfer center Robots in Everyday Life (RimA)
Cooperation options
How we can support you
As an independent research institution, the FZI Research Center for Information Technology helps you solve your problems.
We offer
- robust, modern robot platforms
- comprehensive knowledge of robotics software frameworks
- contract research, prototype development, or knowledge sharing
- feasibility studies, pilot applications, and real-world evaluation
- training and continuing education
Proof-of-Concept demonstrator
- Development of a customized robotics application to test your use cases
- Testing new concepts and evaluating relevant metrics
- Extensive preliminary work enables rapid, problem-specific development
Technology scouting
and evaluation
- Development of a plan for implementing your application, taking into account the current SoA
- Identification of suitable technologies and evaluation for your specific application
- Drafting a development roadmap
ROS consulting
- Support for all topics related to ROS and ROS 2
- Consulting and evaluation of architectures and technologies
- Code review and functional testing in robotics environments
Robotics prototype
- Design, development, and integration of a customized solution tailored to your specific challenges, based on decades of expertise
- Customized solutions for complex problems, robot-independent and state-of-the-art
- Integration and testing in your facilities
Mobile service robots
- Use of mobile service robots in your application, such as the SPOT or ANYmal walking robots
- Ready for immediate use thanks to a comprehensive autonomy stack featuring 3D navigation and reactive behavior
- Development of custom solutions for your applications, such as inspection or maintenance
User-testing studies on UX
and user acceptance
- Conducting user studies in the field of human-computer interaction, such as in human-robot interaction or driver-vehicle interaction
- Study of ergonomics, user acceptance, and user experience
- Study planning and implementation
Do you have a specific request or need advice
regarding one of our services? Feel free to contact us!
Robotics technologies and infrastructure at the FZI
Walking robot
LAURON
Developed by FZI for robust operation in demanding inspection tasks
More about LAURONService robot HoLLiE
Used to support people in their daily lives
More aboutHoLLiE
Robot arms
incl. grippers
Lightweight and industrial robots from Universal Robots, FRANKA, Pilz, Doosan, Schunk, KUKA, FANUC
Mobile
platforms
Platforms with manipulators and walking robots (for example LAURON, ANYmal, Spot)
Robotic prototyping workshop
Workshop for 3D printing and computer-aided manufacturing
Robotic prototyping workshop
Workshop for 3D printing and computer-aided manufacturing
GPU cluster for AI training
State-of-the-art computing infrastructure for compute-intensive tasks such as training large language models (LLMs)